Crib-biting and Windsucking in Horses -
How to cope with a horse that Windsucks

Crib-biting
and windsucking are equine vices in horses and ponies
that can occur due to inactivitiy, boredom, stress or excitement. can
be copied from other horses.

This can develop into a permanent habit or stable vice.

Crib-biting and windsucking are different variations of the same vice
in each case the horse swallows air.

When cribbing the horse or pony grabs hold of something like a stable
door or gate, arches his neck, then gulps air.

Windsucking involves the horse swallowing air, usually
without grabbing anything with his teeth.

CRIB-BITING

A horse that crib bites grasps a stable fitting,
such as the door or his manger, or another convenient object with his
teeth, and then depresses its tongue and swallows air.

This can lead to excessive wear of the horse's incisors or front teeth.
The muscles along the underside of the horse's
neck also become over developed as they as are contracted as
the horse assumes the position of crib-biting.

It is difficult to stop a horse cribbing once this equine habit has
become established - but the use of a crib-biting strap
or collar is effective when used in early cases. As the
horse arches his neck the metal plate of the strap presses
on his throat making swallowing difficult and unpleasant.

When the horse is swallowing food and water normally
the plate in the collar hangs loosely causing no discomfort or interference.

WINDSUCKING

Windsuckers achieve the same end as crib-biting in
that air is swallowed, but it does not require a resting place for the
teeth.

The horse or pony swallows air by
closing the mouth, firmly arching the neck and forcing the air down the
oesophagus. This action is accompanied by a gulping noise.

Some horses which have been crib-biters learn to windsuck
when remedial measures are taken, and some windsuckers
learn to crib bite.

HOW TO MANAGE HORSES THAT CRIB BITE OR WINDSUCK

In severe cases of windsucking and crib-biting horses will lose
condition.

To attempt to stop these stable vices increase the
level of exercise that the horse receives. Also try try to prevent boredom,
stress and other stimulating factors by reducing the amount of time that
the horse spends alone in his stable.

When the horse is stabled to to provide more things to interest him
and prevent boredom.

Provide toys such as feed balls, hanging salt
licks or even a
swede suspended from a rope.

A non equine
stable companion such as a goat can often keep a horse from
becoming lonely and bored.

Using electric fencing along the top rail of fencing
in the field can prevent crib-biting on paddock fences
while the horse is turned out.

SURGERY FOR HORSES THAT WINDSUCK

There is a surgical veterinary procedure designed to treat this equine
condition called a modifed Forrsell's operation.

This involves sectioning of a branch of the accessory nerve and the
muscles involved in the arching of the horse's neck.

a 60-80% success rate preventing windsucking & crib-biting in horses
and ponies has been reported in various surveys when the treatment is
used with other management techniques.